On your mark. Get set. Bake! CBS announces 10 amateur bakers in new reality series 'The American Baking Competition'

by jmaloni

Press release

Tue, Apr 2nd 2013 03:40 pm

"The American Baking Competition" (CBS photo)

Series
will be hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and judged by accomplished chef Marcela
Valladolid and Paul Hollywood, star baker and current judge of the UK series

CBS has announced the 10 amateur bakers who will compete in the new
reality series "The American Baking Competition," which premieres Wednesday,
May 29 (8 p.m.), on the CBS Television Network.

"The American Baking
Competition" is based on the hit UK format-turned-worldwide-phenomenon "The
Great British Bake Off." The series has been a UK sensation and ratings
juggernaut for three seasons and has also become a global hit in Sweden,
Denmark, Belgium and Poland, with other countries set to adapt the series. The
American series will be hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy (@foxoutdoors) and
judged by accomplished chef Marcela Valladolid (@chefmarcela) and star baker
Paul Hollywood (@Hollywoodbaker), who is also a judge on the British series.

The 10 bakers were chosen
from a nationwide search of amateur bakers at local casting bake-offs. Proving
the joy of baking's broad appeal, the six female and four male home bakers have
varied lives and jobs, including a firefighter, photographer, homemaker,
attorney, advertiser, home health care provider, college student, retiree,
project manager and a baking enthusiast trying to go pro.

Each week, "The American
Baking Competition" will feature these passionate home bakers competing in
three unique challenges - "Signature Bake," "Technical Bake" and "Showstopper
Bake." The contestant who out-bakes the rest is that week's "Star Baker," while
the one whose creations fail to impress is eliminated. The final challenge will
be between the three remaining contestants, one of whom will go on to be
crowned the best amateur baker in America and win the $250,000 grand prize. The
winner will also be awarded a publishing contract with Simon & Schuster to
publish their own cookbook with Gallery Books.